Vacuum cleaner



Oct. 12, 1937. o. HOLM-HANSEN 2,095,312

VACUUM CLEANER Filed NOV. 1, 1954 Fig.1.

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Inventor:- Qsmum d HolTn-l-lomse'n,

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Patented Oct.12, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,095,812 VACUUM CLEANER OsmundHelm-Hansen, Stratford, Com, assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application November 1, 1934, serial No. 750,991

10 Claims.

10 suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, and for a consideration of what Ibelieve to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to theaccompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

1 In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly insection of a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the annulus of resilient material 20 which resiliently supports theagitating element in the suction nozzle; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticview showing the action of the agitating element on the floor covering.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my in- 25 vention in connectionwith a vacuum cleaner having an outer casing I which is provided with asuction nozzle 2 and a discharge conduit3. A bag 4 for receiving dirt isattached to the discharge conduit. A motor-driven fan, housed 30 withinthe casing, creates a suction at thenozzle 2 which draws dirt from thesurfacebeing cleaned through the suction nozzle and discharges the dirtthrough the discharge conduit 3 into the bag 4. A handle 5 is providedat the 35 rear of the casing for moving the cleaner. One of the wheelswhich supports the cleaner is shown at 6.

The suction at the suction nozzle 2 raises the floor covering or othermaterial being cleaned i 40 against the bottom edges 7 of the suctionnozzle.

While held in this position, the floor covering is subjecteditoa beatingand sweeping action by rotatable agitating element 8 arranged in thesuction nozzle. The body of the agitating ele- 45 ment may be made fromwood and has two eylindrical sections 9 at either end and anintermediate rounded section III. The rounded section Ill 55 surface andhas a longitudinally extending brush l3 secured thereon by wedgingtherigid back of the brush into a slot l3a in the flattened surface. Theflattened surface is parallel to the axis of the agitating element andthe longitudinal axis of the flattened'suriace extends along the axis ofthe agitating element. The brushes l3 project radially from theflattened surface and the longitudinal axes of the brushes extend alongand parallel to the axis 'of the agitating element.-' The flattenedvsurface permits the length of the 10 bristles of the brushes l3 to beapproximately. doubled and therefore permits the use of heavier and moredurable bristleswithout making the brushes too stiff. Each of thebrushes v l3 extends over substantially half the lengthof the agitatingelement, andthe brushes are arranged diametrically opposite each otherso that the brushes do not simultaneously come in contact with the floorcovering being cleaned. Each of the brushes I3 is in contact with thefloor covering during about 40 of the revolution of the agitatingelement and since the brushes I3 are 180 apart, the floor covering issubjected to beating twice per revolution with short,.snappy strokes.Each of the brushes l3 moves the floor covering under half of thesuction nozzle away from the suction nozzle once during each revolutionof the agitating element and subjects the floor covering to a combinedbeating and sweeping action. With reference to the suction nozzle, thefloor covering has a wave-like motion with the node at the center of theagitating element and the upper and lower crests on either side of thecenter of the agitating element. The floor covering is flexed at thenode. When the floor covering is subjected to this type of motion; thebeating action of the agitating element is more effective and requiresless effort than when the floor covering is merely pushed away from thesuction nozzle along the entire length of the agitating element and isnot subjected to flexing at the center of the agitating element. Adiagrammatic view illustrating the motion of the floor covering is shownin Fig. 4. The full line 23 indicates dia-- grammatically the positionthe floor covering assumes when the brushes are in the position i1-lustrated. The node is indicated at 24, and the upper and lower crestsat 25 and 26. The dotted line 21 indicatesthe position the floorcovering assumes when the agitating element has rotated 180 from theposition illustrated. I find that the straight brushes which contact thefloor simultaneously throughout their entire length and move a largepart of the floor covering away from the suction nozzle at one timeproduce better cleaning action and cause less wear than helicallyarranged brushes of the same stiffness. This may be due to the fact thatwith straight brushes a greater suction is produced at the nozzle whenthe brushes are out of contact with the floor covering and consequentlythe initial impact of the brush with the floor covering produces moreeffective beating. Also, when the straight brushes move the floorcovering away from the suction nozzle, there is a greater reduction insuction and consequently less wear due to the dragging of the brushacross the floor covering. By spacing the brushes 9 around the peripheryof the agitating element, the power required to drive the agitatingelement is more uniform and at the same time the advantage of theimproved beating action of straight agitating is retained. The agitatingelement has a shaft l4 projecting from each end of the cylindricalportion which is rotatably carried in an oilless bearing l5 securedwithin a cup-shaped bearing housing Ii. The agitating element isassembled into the bearing housing Ii by inserting the shaft ll throughthe bearing l5 and securing a pin l I to the projecting end of the shaftto prevent removal of the shaft. The bearing I5 is then pressed intoplace in the bearing housing l6 and frictionally held therein. Oilsoaked waste may be placed in the space between the end of the bearingand the bearing housing.

The bearing housing is resiliently supported in the suction nozzle by anannulus or ring l8 of rubber or other resilient material having acentral opening I! therein which is pressed over the bearing housing l6.Friction between the bearing housing I and the inner surface of therubber ring It prevents relative rotation between the bearing housingand the rubber ring. The rubber ring is secured to the inner wall of thesuction nozzle by fingers 20a of a spring clip 20. Clip II is solderedat 2| to a plate 22. The plate 22 is suitably secured to the inner wallof the suction nozzle. The spring clip is inclined from the axis of thesuction nozzle so that the brush may be more readily inserted throughthe suction nomle. The fingers of the spring clip frictionally engagethe outer surface of the rubber ring. and removably hold the agitatingelement in position within the suction nozzle. To assemble the agitatingelement in position the rubber rings i8 are pressed over the bearinghousings ii at each end of the agitating element and the agitatingelement is inserted through the open end of the suction name. The rubberrings are forced between the fingers 2011 of the spring clip 20. Therubber rings cushion the vibration of the agitating element therebydecreasing the noise and vibration in the handle. The resilient supportprovided by the rubber rings resiliently supports the agitating elementon its axis of rotation and thereby causes less wear on the materialbeing cleaned. This has been thoroughly shown by tests.

In the operation of the cleaner, the suction at the suction nozzle 2draws the floor covering toward the lower edges 1 of the suction nozzle.The belt ll rotates the agitating member 8 which is arranged in thesuction nozzle. During about 140 of the revolution of the agitatingelement 8,

the both of the brushes II are out of contact with the floor covering,and the floor covering is drawn against the lower edges of the suctionnozzle. While in this position the suction pres sure rises to arelatively high value due to the restriction to the flow of air to thesuction IIQZ JG which is caused by the floor covering. The cylindricalportions 9 of the body of the agitating element prevent the floorcovering from being drawn within the suction nozzle. During the nextsucceeding quarter revolution of the agitating element, one of thebrushes i3 is brought into contact with the floor covering. At theinstant of impact of the brush with the floor covering, the floorcovering is in contact with the cylindrical portion 9 of the body ,ofthe agitating element adjacent the flattened surface 9a. The initialimpact of the brush l3 with the floor covering jars the dirt loose fromthe floor covering. Since at this instant the suction at the nozzle isat its highest value, the dirt which is loosened by the jarring orbeating is quickly drawn through the suction nozzle. Also the initialimpact causes more efl'ective jarring or beating of the floor covering.Continued rotation of the agitating element after the instant of impactpushes the floor covering away from the suction nozzle and the draggingof the brush l3 across the surface of the floor covering subjects thefloor covering to a brushing action. Since a large portion of the floorcovering is simultaneously pushed away from the suction nozzle, as shownin Fig. 4, there is a considerable drop in suction pressure so that thebrushing action causes less wear on the floor covering. The brush l3remains in contact with the floor covering for substantially 40 of therevolution of the agitating element. During the next 140 of therevolution of the agitating element after the first brush i3 is out ofcontact with the floor covering, the floor covering is drawn against thelower edges of the suction nozzle as during the first 140 of therevolution of the agitating element, and during the final 40 of therevolution of the agitating element the other brush i3 which isdiametrically opposite the first brush l3 subjects the floor coveringunder the other half of the nozzle to a beating and sweeping action.

During the rotation of the agitating element, the rubber rings l8resiliently cushion the agitating element. This cushioning action doesnot to any great degree increase the effectiveness of the beating actioncaused by the initial impact of one of the brushes i3 with the floorcovering. The cushioning does, however, decrease the weal on the floorcovering during the subsequent brushing action and also permits theagitating element to align itself with the floor covering so that unevenwear is prevented. The cushioning is particularly eifective when usedwith agitating elements having straight agitating members.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the UnitedStates is:

s 1. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suction nozzle, a rotatableagitating element arranged in said nozzle, said agitating elementcomprising a body portion with an agitating member arranged on thesurface thereof, means including a motor for rotating said agitatingelement, and means for resiliently supporting the body of said agitatingelement and permitting yielding movement of said agitating elementduring cleaning.

2. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suction nozzle, a rotatableagitating element arranged in said nozzle and journaled in a bearing,means including a motor for rotating said agitating element, and meansfor resiliently supporting said bearing on said casing andpermittingyielding movement of said agitating element 3. In a suction element,' acasing having a suction nozzle, a rotatable agitating element arrangedin said nozzle and journaled in a bear- ,ing, means including a motorfor rotating said agitating element, and means including resilientmaterial arranged around said bearing for resiliently supporting saidbearing on said casing and permitting yielding movement of saidagitating element during cleaning. I

4. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suction nozzle, a rotatableagitating element arranged in said nozzle and journaled in a bearing,means including a motor for rotating said agitating element, an annulusof resilient material surrounding said bearing for permitting yieldingmovement of said agitating element during cleaning, and a clip forremovably carrying said annulus on said casing.

5. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suction nozzle, a rotatableagitating element arranged in said nozzle, said agitating elementcomprising a body portion having an agitating member projectingtherefrom, the longitudinal axis of said member extending along the axisof the agitating element, means including a motor for rotating saidagitating element, and means for resiliently supporting the body of saidagitating element and permitting yielding move ment of said agitatingelement during cleaning.

6. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suc- .tion nozzle, arotatable agitating element arranged in said nozzle and journaled in abearing, said agitating element comprising a body portion. having anagitating, member projecting therefrom, the longitudinal axis of saidagitating member extending along the axis of the agitating element,means including a motor for rotating said agitating element, andresilient material arranged around said bearing for resilientlysupporting said bearing on said casing and permitting yielding movementof said agitating element during cleaning.

' 7. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suction nozzle, a rotatableagitating element arranged in said nozzle, said agitating element"comprising a cylindrical body having a flattened surface with itslongitudinal axis extending along its longitudinal axis extendingalongthe axis of the cylindrical body, means including. a motor forrotating said agitating element, and means for resiliently supportingthe body of said agitating element and permitting yielding movement ofsaid agitating element during cleaning.

8. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suction' nozzle, a rotatableagitating element arranged in said nozzle and journaled in a bearing,said agitating element comprising a body having a plurality of agitatingmembers each extending along a separate portion of the length of thebody and projecting radially therefrom, the longitudinal axis of saidmembers extending along the axis of the agitating element and saidmembers being spaced on the periphery of the body of the agitatingelement so that the agitating members do not simultaneously contact thesurface being cleaned, means including a motor for rotating saidagitating element, and means for resiliently supporting said bearing onsaid casing and permitting yielding movement of said agitating elementduring cleaning.

9. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a suction nozzle, a rotatableagitating element arranged in said nozzle, said agitating elementcomprising a body having a pair of diametrically opposite agitatingmembers projecting therefrom, the longitudinal axis 'of each agitatingmember extending along the axis and along a separate part of the lengthon the agitating element, means including a motor for rotating saidagitating element, and means for resiliently supporting the body of saidagitating element and permitting yielding movement of said agitatingelement during cleaning.

said agitating element comprising a cylindrical body having twodiametrically opposite flattened portions, the longitudinal axis of eachextending parallel to the axis and along a separate portion of thelength of the cylindrical body, a pair of brushes projecting from saidflattened surfaces and having their' longitudinal axes extendingparallel to the axis of the agitating element, means including a motorfor rotating said agitating element, and resilient material arrangedaround said bearing for resiliently supporting said bearing on saidcasing and permitting yielding movement of said agitating ele mentduringcleaning.

OSMUND HOLM-HANSEN.

